AccuWeather experts are estimating an incredible amount of damage in California due to floods, mudslides, downed trees and more amid one of the rainiest days in Southern California's history.
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00:00 Eight Southern California counties are under a state of emergency and AccuWeather is looking at a preliminary estimate
00:05 Between nine and eleven billion dollars with a B in damage and total economic impact across, California
00:11 So chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter is joining us now with some of these details and John just off the bat
00:17 What is the the primary?
00:19 Influence in driving the the billion dollar disaster here the numbers upward in terms of the economic toll
00:24 Right. Well Jeff it's of the flooding damage the very serious flash flooding that's occurred. We're talking about
00:30 roadways and infrastructure damaged as well as mudslides and debris flow and remember whenever water
00:36 gets into homes and businesses that causes a lot of damage and
00:41 Could take quite a while to rebuild and this has happened in a very densely populated area with high-value
00:48 Real estate where lots of people live so it's for that reason that we've breaking news at this hour
00:54 AccuWeather's preliminary estimate for total damage and economic loss from the storm last week and also then this storm
01:01 nine to eleven billion dollars worth of damage
01:05 And we've been talking about this big feed of moisture that continues to come in from the Pacific right into, California
01:11 The water vapor loop and also if we switch back over to radar
01:14 It is showing that this this area of rain is just very persistent
01:19 There is a new flash flood warning for much of Los Angeles from downtown LA up to the north until 6 p.m.
01:25 Pacific time and also areas just to the west into parts of Malibu and other areas nearby
01:30 So John when we turn these storm reports on we're just flooded with reports all these different reports indicating rocks on the roads
01:39 Vehicles stuck in flood flooded roadways and so forth so what would you say to somebody who is considering getting out and about here?
01:46 Is this situation where anybody can go out if they have evening plans?
01:51 Well, we're greatly advising people to not travel in the LA area and surrounding communities here from LA down to San Diego as we head
01:59 Through the overnight hours look at this another batch of rain heading into the same areas that have already experienced
02:06 Life-threatening flash flooding that's going to renew the problems and result in even more damage
02:11 Remember some of these waterways typically most of the year rivers and creeks as little dry washes might not have any water in them
02:19 But with this kind of rainfall we're talking about them become torrents
02:23 And that's how people can get into a very dangerous situation very quickly especially when driving
02:28 So please of watch for and avoid rapidly rising water
02:31 This whole area here as we make our way both through LA metro area and the surrounding terrain
02:36 Very dangerous situation in the hours to come and just briefly John you mentioned a little
02:41 Historical context in terms of greatest two-day rain events for Los Angeles well that puts this whole thing into perspective
02:48 We're talking about more than six and a half inches of rain in downtown LA
02:52 That's going to be the third highest
02:55 rainfall total for a two-day event going all the way back to
02:59 1877 that's when weather records started in Los Angeles that shows you that's impressive
03:04 And it's still adding up, so we're going to make a run at that number one value there
03:09 Which would be a booth seven point nine eight inches, so it shows you just how?
03:12 Historical this event is in terms of the rainfall not only in LA
03:16 But of course there's been more in the mountains as a key weather has been warning about since early last week ahead of other sources
03:21 Alright, John. Thanks for that context there
03:24 And we're going to continue to follow this is it's not over by any stretch a very dangerous night for our friends in California again
03:30 Tonight and into the day tomorrow so as we continue to follow this storyline
03:33 Again the rain continues and also up to the north you can see up into places like San Francisco
03:38 We have some showers that are more sporadic at this point the worst of this is through San Francisco
03:42 But we've also seen we've talked a lot about the rain the snow reports have been hefty, too